The highlight of the night happened about midway through the second quarter of the Nuggets penultimate home game, against the Jazz on Saturday night.That was about the time the Atlanta Hawks were putting the finishing touches on an upset victory over Miami, thereby clinching the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That eliminated the New York Knicks, officially giving the Nugg...

Fournier's being given a chance to develop a solid game. Vesely's athleticism at 7 foot is adding to the front line, Mozgov's confidence is increasing, and finally, Faried's concentration on offense has never been displayed like now. I have to give Shaw some credit for helping these guys to step up. Maybe these players should be our foundation for the future. The ball gets moved around a lot more than when Lawson is in the game (although I think he's a great player.)

A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

The Nuggets will benefit next year from the experience that the younger players gained this year. I feel very good about how the team will look, if healthy next year.

A starting team of Lawson, Foye, Faried, and Mozgov will fine with the bench that we have. The biggest question is the 3 - who will be healthy and who will step up? As discussed elsewhere, a lock-down wing defender would be a tremendous boon to this team next year.

Pop up galore here at the DP and so it's been hard to download and post anything to the site in a while. Do they not understand that they get paid by their multitude of adds and sponsors and not trying to charge for FREE online viewing?

Anyway, on to the Nuggets! As I have been saying, The Nuggets are a team developing their foundation, their 'roots" if you will. The entire season has been one of shaking out, settling in with available players and introducing a new coach who has the reputation for developing individual talent and winning in the playoffs. Without going down anyone of the various rabbit trails one could go down, let's just say it's been nice seeing the development of some of the players that we all hoped would emerge under the command of GK but, for whatever reason did not. At least not to this degree. Iv'e enjoyed watching the Nuggets improve as a team but, still see the obvious changes that will need to be made to make it a contending team. The easy thing is that it's all about hard work. The tough thing is that each player has their own agenda and their own choices as to whether they want to improve. I think as we see more and more guys at the low end of the bench step into their roles and show vast improvements, the guys who have been coasting can take a fresh look at there lack of progress and find help.

Guys that have made improvement as I see it here:

Durell Arthur: Now able to hit consistent low parameter shots and even step back to the 3 point line and finish. Also has sharpened his defensive presence as we all watched that flesh out over the season.

Quincy Miller: Is now able to hit three points, explode to the basket, block shots, defend and run the rock and he has tremendous upside going into next season. Diamond in the rough.[and very rough at that]

Champagne:Now able to consistently hit his three point shot. Starting to shows little signs of backing off his defender and not overplaying and also learning how to finish at the rim as opposed to just get to the rim. I see him needing some muscle going into next season and also learning some basic defensive do's and don'ts. Offense will flourish next season naturally when he sees the floor.

Randy: Found his fighting spirit and found his shot finally. Randy can score at will, has incredible leaping ability but, plays mostly under the hat. Like to see him play full out next year, attacking the rim while continuing to improve his rebounding and defensive commitment.

Ty: Ty started the emerge early on under Brian and then as he is known for, fizzled out after getting a little banged up toward the latter part of the season. I expect that Brian will encourage him to have a real run at the allstar game next year improving his consistency with his numbers and his aggressiveness on the court. I think Brian will also work with him to improve his leadership skills. It's not always about barking but, encouraging your fellow teammates that can have great reward. Ty will learn that.

Faried: Brain will get him in the allstar category. The improvements are obvious. I'd like to see him polish up his offensive game next year, settle in to a comfortable style of defense and continue to improve his decision making on the court. I expect Faried to emerge late next year into an allstar type player.

Mozzy: Muscle. He needs muscle. Expect him to hire a nutritionist/chef and the like. He needs physical changes to his body. He has grown leaps and bounds this year and will continue to start for the Nuggets next year. Mozzy has scary potential and will end up surprising many folks next year that simply know him for being "Blaked".

Chandler: NEEDS VAST IMPROVEMENT. has all the potential in the world but, needs to get his body and mind right. Athletically gifted and has a thoroughbred temperament, a real specimen in terms of athletic ability. But he is shorting himself in terms if being out of cardio shape year after year and not building up his body the way an elite player would. I'm serious, this guy has all the potential in the world but, kind of seems to skate by on just sort of randomized ebb and flow approach to the game. Needs a much more calculated style to his game. I still think he is playing as if under GK. Next year I would expect him to catch on mid season or be traded possibly.

Gallo: That guy is prime pickens for Shaw. He could be something really special if he comes back the same in terms of health.

Nate: Hmmm...Nate is Nate you know? Can't nobody tell him what to do. lol But, Nate could use the time off to start to really plug into what Shaw wants and how to operate in his own impulsive style while at the same time pursue the agenda of BShaw's offensive schemes. I see him possibly traded or else staying on and finding a way to flourish under the teams agenda next year. Right now I think Nate needs to add more to the defensive end of his game while also improving his ability to open up the offense for more than just Mozzy. Needs to learn to play lesss flashy and more solid bball.

JJ: Really brought in a consistent style of play for Shaw but, I think could be traded or else will need to improve his decision making, free throws and speed as a player.[he is often late to his defensive spots] He has had to play out of position most of this year so I look for Shaw to give him a shot at playing in his natural territory next year for limited floor time as he heals up.

Javalle: I think he is another prime pickens for Shaw. Unfortunately he will need most of the year before he will see any improvements to his game if he doesn't somehow get traded first.

All of these guys needs to have improvements in muscle and strength. Steve Hess is a great cardio guy for those who will listen to him but, he doesn't seem to be able to get the team to put on any real muscle. I'd like to see Shaw bring in someone to give them some foundational ideas on how to improve body composition as he did for Roy Hibbert and also the entire Lakers team. [not that he Shaw was solely responsible for it]

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Finish strong. That's all a Nuggets fan can ask for at this point. As for the lottery picks...I'd rather the Nuggets trade them both for a veteran who can hopefully positively impact the team's defense or half-court offense. I know that's a lot to ask (Pau Gasol maybe? Add in another player and go for Kevin Love? I'm probably dreaming) but how else can this team ever get to the next level beyond where George Karl/Carmelo Anthony led them otherwise?

Reggie Scott2 wrote:Finish strong. That's all a Nuggets fan can ask for at this point. As for the lottery picks...I'd rather the Nuggets trade them both for a veteran who can hopefully positively impact the team's defense or half-court offense. I know that's a lot to ask (Pau Gasol maybe? Add in another player and go for Kevin Love? I'm probably dreaming) but how else can this team ever get to the next level beyond where George Karl/Carmelo Anthony led them otherwise?

Reggie... The lower of the two lottery picks goes to Orlando as part of the Iggy trade.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Oliver Stone reference. Wow, how desperate you are. Get real.

I gave plenty of credit for player development. There hasn't been very much except what I documented.

I go back at you and ask you to describe in detail the real player development this year. Look forward to your take. In detail.

Some of the Nuggets players have really 'improved' when the games mean nothing and couldn't do it when the games were actually meaningful. Do I really have to break out the stats for Faried and others before and after the Nuggets were actually eliminated from the playoffs, like before the all-star break? If you don't understand that some players and some teams play a lot better when nothing is really at stake, well, don't know how to respond. Maybe you're new to watching the league or understanding human nature.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Villy wrote:Fournier's being given a chance to develop a solid game. Vesely's athleticism at 7 foot is adding to the front line, Mozgov's confidence is increasing, and finally, Faried's concentration on offense has never been displayed like now. I have to give Shaw some credit for helping these guys to step up. Maybe these players should be our foundation for the future. The ball gets moved around a lot more than when Lawson is in the game (although I think he's a great player.)

These players are going to be our future? Hilarious since 'contending' is the only reason the Nuggets made all the changes. Are fans here just congenitally stupid?

dharte wrote:Pop up galore here at the DP and so it's been hard to download and post anything to the site in a while. Do they not understand that they get paid by their multitude of adds and sponsors and not trying to charge for FREE online viewing?

Anyway, on to the Nuggets! As I have been saying, The Nuggets are a team developing their foundation, their 'roots" if you will. The entire season has been one of shaking out, settling in with available players and introducing a new coach who has the reputation for developing individual talent and winning in the playoffs. Without going down anyone of the various rabbit trails one could go down, let's just say it's been nice seeing the development of some of the players that we all hoped would emerge under the command of GK but, for whatever reason did not. At least not to this degree. Iv'e enjoyed watching the Nuggets improve as a team but, still see the obvious changes that will need to be made to make it a contending team. The easy thing is that it's all about hard work. The tough thing is that each player has their own agenda and their own choices as to whether they want to improve. I think as we see more and more guys at the low end of the bench step into their roles and show vast improvements, the guys who have been coasting can take a fresh look at there lack of progress and find help.

Guys that have made improvement as I see it here:

Durell Arthur: Now able to hit consistent low parameter shots and even step back to the 3 point line and finish. Also has sharpened his defensive presence as we all watched that flesh out over the season.

Quincy Miller: Is now able to hit three points, explode to the basket, block shots, defend and run the rock and he has tremendous upside going into next season. Diamond in the rough.[and very rough at that]

Champagne:Now able to consistently hit his three point shot. Starting to shows little signs of backing off his defender and not overplaying and also learning how to finish at the rim as opposed to just get to the rim. I see him needing some muscle going into next season and also learning some basic defensive do's and don'ts. Offense will flourish next season naturally when he sees the floor.

Randy: Found his fighting spirit and found his shot finally. Randy can score at will, has incredible leaping ability but, plays mostly under the hat. Like to see him play full out next year, attacking the rim while continuing to improve his rebounding and defensive commitment.

Ty: Ty started the emerge early on under Brian and then as he is known for, fizzled out after getting a little banged up toward the latter part of the season. I expect that Brian will encourage him to have a real run at the allstar game next year improving his consistency with his numbers and his aggressiveness on the court. I think Brian will also work with him to improve his leadership skills. It's not always about barking but, encouraging your fellow teammates that can have great reward. Ty will learn that.

Faried: Brain will get him in the allstar category. The improvements are obvious. I'd like to see him polish up his offensive game next year, settle in to a comfortable style of defense and continue to improve his decision making on the court. I expect Faried to emerge late next year into an allstar type player.

Mozzy: Muscle. He needs muscle. Expect him to hire a nutritionist/chef and the like. He needs physical changes to his body. He has grown leaps and bounds this year and will continue to start for the Nuggets next year. Mozzy has scary potential and will end up surprising many folks next year that simply know him for being "Blaked".

Chandler: NEEDS VAST IMPROVEMENT. has all the potential in the world but, needs to get his body and mind right. Athletically gifted and has a thoroughbred temperament, a real specimen in terms of athletic ability. But he is shorting himself in terms if being out of cardio shape year after year and not building up his body the way an elite player would. I'm serious, this guy has all the potential in the world but, kind of seems to skate by on just sort of randomized ebb and flow approach to the game. Needs a much more calculated style to his game. I still think he is playing as if under GK. Next year I would expect him to catch on mid season or be traded possibly.

Gallo: That guy is prime pickens for Shaw. He could be something really special if he comes back the same in terms of health.

Nate: Hmmm...Nate is Nate you know? Can't nobody tell him what to do. lol But, Nate could use the time off to start to really plug into what Shaw wants and how to operate in his own impulsive style while at the same time pursue the agenda of BShaw's offensive schemes. I see him possibly traded or else staying on and finding a way to flourish under the teams agenda next year. Right now I think Nate needs to add more to the defensive end of his game while also improving his ability to open up the offense for more than just Mozzy. Needs to learn to play lesss flashy and more solid bball.

JJ: Really brought in a consistent style of play for Shaw but, I think could be traded or else will need to improve his decision making, free throws and speed as a player.[he is often late to his defensive spots] He has had to play out of position most of this year so I look for Shaw to give him a shot at playing in his natural territory next year for limited floor time as he heals up.

Javalle: I think he is another prime pickens for Shaw. Unfortunately he will need most of the year before he will see any improvements to his game if he doesn't somehow get traded first.

All of these guys needs to have improvements in muscle and strength. Steve Hess is a great cardio guy for those who will listen to him but, he doesn't seem to be able to get the team to put on any real muscle. I'd like to see Shaw bring in someone to give them some foundational ideas on how to improve body composition as he did for Roy Hibbert and also the entire Lakers team. [not that he Shaw was solely responsible for it]

You live in a fantasy world, CD, or whoever actually dominates the thread on behalf of the Post.

Please. I don't normally pay attention to 5 thumbs down because most of the fans here do their best, but really?

You act like a trainer can change the whole situation. Really a bizarre take.

Lots of woulda coulda shoulda here that puts a crazily positive spin on things. I'm actually trying to make sane takes that are about how to make the team a contender in the future. Please cut the crap.

The team doesn't have the talent to contend fully healthy. The FO supposedly fired everybody and let everybody walk so we could become contenders because playing beautiful hoops and breaking every team record wasn't enough. Remember? Wasn't that long ago.

Enough ridiculous spin. I'm trying to argue for much better roster construction and player talent in the future and you're--literally hilariously--trying to argue for very small incremental player improvement and better nutes and a better training regimen.

The Nugs were a disappointment this year, but didn't we expect it? They also showed us some streaks of great basketball. I think finishing with a winning streak will carry them into next season, one in which should be better than this one. I look forward to next season.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Once again you make asinine takes that waste intelligent fans time.

Once again you bloviate on this thread. Cut everyone down, and don't back up your same old tired take.

dharte wrote:Pop up galore here at the DP and so it's been hard to download and post anything to the site in a while. Do they not understand that they get paid by their multitude of adds and sponsors and not trying to charge for FREE online viewing?

Anyway, on to the Nuggets! As I have been saying, The Nuggets are a team developing their foundation, their 'roots" if you will. The entire season has been one of shaking out, settling in with available players and introducing a new coach who has the reputation for developing individual talent and winning in the playoffs. Without going down anyone of the various rabbit trails one could go down, let's just say it's been nice seeing the development of some of the players that we all hoped would emerge under the command of GK but, for whatever reason did not. At least not to this degree. Iv'e enjoyed watching the Nuggets improve as a team but, still see the obvious changes that will need to be made to make it a contending team. The easy thing is that it's all about hard work. The tough thing is that each player has their own agenda and their own choices as to whether they want to improve. I think as we see more and more guys at the low end of the bench step into their roles and show vast improvements, the guys who have been coasting can take a fresh look at there lack of progress and find help.

Guys that have made improvement as I see it here:

Durell Arthur: Now able to hit consistent low parameter shots and even step back to the 3 point line and finish. Also has sharpened his defensive presence as we all watched that flesh out over the season.

Quincy Miller: Is now able to hit three points, explode to the basket, block shots, defend and run the rock and he has tremendous upside going into next season. Diamond in the rough.[and very rough at that]

Champagne:Now able to consistently hit his three point shot. Starting to shows little signs of backing off his defender and not overplaying and also learning how to finish at the rim as opposed to just get to the rim. I see him needing some muscle going into next season and also learning some basic defensive do's and don'ts. Offense will flourish next season naturally when he sees the floor.

Randy: Found his fighting spirit and found his shot finally. Randy can score at will, has incredible leaping ability but, plays mostly under the hat. Like to see him play full out next year, attacking the rim while continuing to improve his rebounding and defensive commitment.

Ty: Ty started the emerge early on under Brian and then as he is known for, fizzled out after getting a little banged up toward the latter part of the season. I expect that Brian will encourage him to have a real run at the allstar game next year improving his consistency with his numbers and his aggressiveness on the court. I think Brian will also work with him to improve his leadership skills. It's not always about barking but, encouraging your fellow teammates that can have great reward. Ty will learn that.

Faried: Brain will get him in the allstar category. The improvements are obvious. I'd like to see him polish up his offensive game next year, settle in to a comfortable style of defense and continue to improve his decision making on the court. I expect Faried to emerge late next year into an allstar type player.

Mozzy: Muscle. He needs muscle. Expect him to hire a nutritionist/chef and the like. He needs physical changes to his body. He has grown leaps and bounds this year and will continue to start for the Nuggets next year. Mozzy has scary potential and will end up surprising many folks next year that simply know him for being "Blaked".

Chandler: NEEDS VAST IMPROVEMENT. has all the potential in the world but, needs to get his body and mind right. Athletically gifted and has a thoroughbred temperament, a real specimen in terms of athletic ability. But he is shorting himself in terms if being out of cardio shape year after year and not building up his body the way an elite player would. I'm serious, this guy has all the potential in the world but, kind of seems to skate by on just sort of randomized ebb and flow approach to the game. Needs a much more calculated style to his game. I still think he is playing as if under GK. Next year I would expect him to catch on mid season or be traded possibly.

Gallo: That guy is prime pickens for Shaw. He could be something really special if he comes back the same in terms of health.

Nate: Hmmm...Nate is Nate you know? Can't nobody tell him what to do. lol But, Nate could use the time off to start to really plug into what Shaw wants and how to operate in his own impulsive style while at the same time pursue the agenda of BShaw's offensive schemes. I see him possibly traded or else staying on and finding a way to flourish under the teams agenda next year. Right now I think Nate needs to add more to the defensive end of his game while also improving his ability to open up the offense for more than just Mozzy. Needs to learn to play lesss flashy and more solid bball.

JJ: Really brought in a consistent style of play for Shaw but, I think could be traded or else will need to improve his decision making, free throws and speed as a player.[he is often late to his defensive spots] He has had to play out of position most of this year so I look for Shaw to give him a shot at playing in his natural territory next year for limited floor time as he heals up.

Javalle: I think he is another prime pickens for Shaw. Unfortunately he will need most of the year before he will see any improvements to his game if he doesn't somehow get traded first.

All of these guys needs to have improvements in muscle and strength. Steve Hess is a great cardio guy for those who will listen to him but, he doesn't seem to be able to get the team to put on any real muscle. I'd like to see Shaw bring in someone to give them some foundational ideas on how to improve body composition as he did for Roy Hibbert and also the entire Lakers team. [not that he Shaw was solely responsible for it]

You live in a fantasy world, CD, or whoever actually dominates the thread on behalf of the Post.

Please. I don't normally pay attention to 5 thumbs down because most of the fans here do their best, but really?

You act like a trainer can change the whole situation. Really a bizarre take.

Lots of woulda coulda shoulda here that puts a crazily positive spin on things. I'm actually trying to make sane takes that are about how to make the team a contender in the future. Please cut the crap.

The team doesn't have the talent to contend fully healthy. The FO supposedly fired everybody and let everybody walk so we could become contenders because playing beautiful hoops and breaking every team record wasn't enough. Remember? Wasn't that long ago.

Enough ridiculous spin. I'm trying to argue for much better roster construction and player talent in the future and you're--literally hilariously--trying to argue for very small incremental player improvement and better nutes and a better training regimen.

Are you serious?

WAKE UP.

Wordcat YOU are the only person who dominates threads at the Nuggets forums.[I see you on every thread and on every dang topic] It has been that way for 2 years here. You can't EVER post your thoughts without anyone thumbing your ideas down and then when it happens, you lurk around for posters to punish. It's just that way with you.

I gotta tell you that you would get some credit around here for your ideas if you went about it the right way. You choose not to and so I choose not to address much of anything you say. You always just sound like an angry super critical old man essentially saying "get off my lawn".

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Once again you make asinine takes that waste intelligent fans time.

Once again you bloviate on this thread. Cut everyone down, and don't back up your same old tired take.

With you on that, I think most here are.[except the alias' Wordcat created] The fact is he can not have anything opposed to his takes. His takes are reality to him and when things start to prove otherwise over time as they always have, he gets aggressive starts accusing everyone of 'spinning" and then launches HIS actual spins into orbit.

..and then the cycle continues. With the amount of chastisement he receives here at the nuggets forum I keep wondering why he comes back? But then again when someone is that off balance, I don't think they can face the reality of whats staring him in the face . At least not without medication anyway.

Hopefully he will find some puppies to torture or old ladies to kick for a time so we can have a little peace here at the wrap up of the season.

dharte wrote:Pop up galore here at the DP and so it's been hard to download and post anything to the site in a while. Do they not understand that they get paid by their multitude of adds and sponsors and not trying to charge for FREE online viewing?

Anyway, on to the Nuggets! As I have been saying, The Nuggets are a team developing their foundation, their 'roots" if you will. The entire season has been one of shaking out, settling in with available players and introducing a new coach who has the reputation for developing individual talent and winning in the playoffs. Without going down anyone of the various rabbit trails one could go down, let's just say it's been nice seeing the development of some of the players that we all hoped would emerge under the command of GK but, for whatever reason did not. At least not to this degree. Iv'e enjoyed watching the Nuggets improve as a team but, still see the obvious changes that will need to be made to make it a contending team. The easy thing is that it's all about hard work. The tough thing is that each player has their own agenda and their own choices as to whether they want to improve. I think as we see more and more guys at the low end of the bench step into their roles and show vast improvements, the guys who have been coasting can take a fresh look at there lack of progress and find help.

Guys that have made improvement as I see it here:

Durell Arthur: Now able to hit consistent low parameter shots and even step back to the 3 point line and finish. Also has sharpened his defensive presence as we all watched that flesh out over the season.

Quincy Miller: Is now able to hit three points, explode to the basket, block shots, defend and run the rock and he has tremendous upside going into next season. Diamond in the rough.[and very rough at that]

Champagne:Now able to consistently hit his three point shot. Starting to shows little signs of backing off his defender and not overplaying and also learning how to finish at the rim as opposed to just get to the rim. I see him needing some muscle going into next season and also learning some basic defensive do's and don'ts. Offense will flourish next season naturally when he sees the floor.

Randy: Found his fighting spirit and found his shot finally. Randy can score at will, has incredible leaping ability but, plays mostly under the hat. Like to see him play full out next year, attacking the rim while continuing to improve his rebounding and defensive commitment.

Ty: Ty started the emerge early on under Brian and then as he is known for, fizzled out after getting a little banged up toward the latter part of the season. I expect that Brian will encourage him to have a real run at the allstar game next year improving his consistency with his numbers and his aggressiveness on the court. I think Brian will also work with him to improve his leadership skills. It's not always about barking but, encouraging your fellow teammates that can have great reward. Ty will learn that.

Faried: Brain will get him in the allstar category. The improvements are obvious. I'd like to see him polish up his offensive game next year, settle in to a comfortable style of defense and continue to improve his decision making on the court. I expect Faried to emerge late next year into an allstar type player.

Mozzy: Muscle. He needs muscle. Expect him to hire a nutritionist/chef and the like. He needs physical changes to his body. He has grown leaps and bounds this year and will continue to start for the Nuggets next year. Mozzy has scary potential and will end up surprising many folks next year that simply know him for being "Blaked".

Chandler: NEEDS VAST IMPROVEMENT. has all the potential in the world but, needs to get his body and mind right. Athletically gifted and has a thoroughbred temperament, a real specimen in terms of athletic ability. But he is shorting himself in terms if being out of cardio shape year after year and not building up his body the way an elite player would. I'm serious, this guy has all the potential in the world but, kind of seems to skate by on just sort of randomized ebb and flow approach to the game. Needs a much more calculated style to his game. I still think he is playing as if under GK. Next year I would expect him to catch on mid season or be traded possibly.

Gallo: That guy is prime pickens for Shaw. He could be something really special if he comes back the same in terms of health.

Nate: Hmmm...Nate is Nate you know? Can't nobody tell him what to do. lol But, Nate could use the time off to start to really plug into what Shaw wants and how to operate in his own impulsive style while at the same time pursue the agenda of BShaw's offensive schemes. I see him possibly traded or else staying on and finding a way to flourish under the teams agenda next year. Right now I think Nate needs to add more to the defensive end of his game while also improving his ability to open up the offense for more than just Mozzy. Needs to learn to play lesss flashy and more solid bball.

JJ: Really brought in a consistent style of play for Shaw but, I think could be traded or else will need to improve his decision making, free throws and speed as a player.[he is often late to his defensive spots] He has had to play out of position most of this year so I look for Shaw to give him a shot at playing in his natural territory next year for limited floor time as he heals up.

Javalle: I think he is another prime pickens for Shaw. Unfortunately he will need most of the year before he will see any improvements to his game if he doesn't somehow get traded first.

All of these guys needs to have improvements in muscle and strength. Steve Hess is a great cardio guy for those who will listen to him but, he doesn't seem to be able to get the team to put on any real muscle. I'd like to see Shaw bring in someone to give them some foundational ideas on how to improve body composition as he did for Roy Hibbert and also the entire Lakers team. [not that he Shaw was solely responsible for it]

You live in a fantasy world, CD, or whoever actually dominates the thread on behalf of the Post.

Please. I don't normally pay attention to 5 thumbs down because most of the fans here do their best, but really?

You act like a trainer can change the whole situation. Really a bizarre take.

Lots of woulda coulda shoulda here that puts a crazily positive spin on things. I'm actually trying to make sane takes that are about how to make the team a contender in the future. Please cut the crap.

The team doesn't have the talent to contend fully healthy. The FO supposedly fired everybody and let everybody walk so we could become contenders because playing beautiful hoops and breaking every team record wasn't enough. Remember? Wasn't that long ago.

Enough ridiculous spin. I'm trying to argue for much better roster construction and player talent in the future and you're--literally hilariously--trying to argue for very small incremental player improvement and better nutes and a better training regimen.

Are you serious?

WAKE UP.

Wordcat YOU are the only person who dominates threads at the Nuggets forums.[I see you on every thread and on every dang topic] It has been that way for 2 years here. You can't EVER post your thoughts without anyone thumbing your ideas down and then when it happens, you lurk around for posters to punish. It's just that way with you.

I gotta tell you that you would get some credit around here for your ideas if you went about it the right way. You choose not to and so I choose not to address much of anything you say. You always just sound like an angry super critical old man essentially saying "get off my lawn".

I'm fine with the give and take here even if harsh. You seem to have a hard time with it. Grow up Chris, or whoever makes these takes these days on behalf of the Post. Again, I make criticisms on the basis of actual takes and not broad attacks that you specialize in like 'angry super critical old man essentially saying get off my lawn.'

Figure it out Chris or whoever you are. Up your game or move on. Please.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Once again you make asinine takes that waste intelligent fans time.

Once again you bloviate on this thread. Cut everyone down, and don't back up your same old tired take.

With you on that, I think most here are.[except the alias' Wordcat created] The fact is he can not have anything opposed to his takes. His takes are reality to him and when things start to prove otherwise over time as they always have, he gets aggressive starts accusing everyone of 'spinning" and then launches HIS actual spins into orbit.

..and then the cycle continues. With the amount of chastisement he receives here at the nuggets forum I keep wondering why he comes back? But then again when someone is that off balance, I don't think they can face the reality of whats staring him in the face . At least not without medication anyway.

Hopefully he will find some puppies to torture or old ladies to kick for a time so we can have a little peace here at the wrap up of the season.

? Puppies to torture? Old ladies to kick?

Wow, we're getting desperate now.

I think my takes have been pretty accurate and articulate so far over the past few years, and far from being proven otherwise they've been pretty accurate. Glad to go point by point with you if you have the stomach to do it. I'm inviting you in to do it. I can back it up. Let's talk point for point. I'm guessing you can't but work for the Post or the Nuggets and need your job so you write this kind of personal attack because I'm not buying into the current Kroenke narrative.

I actually haven't taken much 'chastisement' here except for a few thumbs down from time to time and some warnings from the Post that they want children to be able to read these threads without being disturbed. And an occasionally stupid and way over the top post like yours.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Once again you make asinine takes that waste intelligent fans time.

Once again you bloviate on this thread. Cut everyone down, and don't back up your same old tired take.

I actually back up almost my takes with stats, something I've never seen you do here. Start doing it and I'll take you more seriously. And yes, I bloviate because I write paragraphs rather than twitter induced phrases or short sentences that by definition can't communicate as well. You can actually communicate here--you don't have to limit the numbers of key strokes.

Re 'nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams,' it's well established science.

Do I really have to explain that relaxed people normally perform better than people under pressure? We admire people that perform well under pressure precisely because it's so unusual.

Being spoilers, exactly what the Nuggets have been doing, is much easier than being in the real fight where performance and games actually mean something beyond individual contracts or a fictional attempt at 'momentum' for next year.

wordcat57 wrote:A team playing free and easy with no pressure at all over the past few weeks--actually, over the past 6 weeks or more. Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams. What we're seeing, I think, is mostly effort and intensity for individual contracts or just staying in the league. An effort and intensity missing all year when the games actually meant something. Not tonight, of course. Utah is terrible.

A lot of smoke blowing about player development this year on Nuggets threads and especially in the local media. Here's the extent of the actual player development.

Faried is far more aggressive--but only during this late season period when the games mean nothing--on the offensive end. He developed a runner and jump hook and the face up jumper last year and showed he could do them earlier this year but has gotten the green light to go for it now. Still an abysmal defender but no doubt more confident and effective with his clumsy offensive arsenal. He even often leads the break these days. Rarely turns out well but looks cool with the dread tail flying around. Crowd pleaser. Please trade him FO when his value is high and get us a long athletic defender that will be part of the new Nuggets that can actually contend.

Mozzie has improved even more. He's played solid all year. His footwork and moves in the low post are so much better. He used to drop entry passes and get stripped all the time but has mostly cleaned that up. Always had a nice shooting touch. Lousy defender like all of our bigs but Arthur, but no doubt a lot better.

BTW, our largely meaningless wins recently against Miami, LAC, Houston and GS have dropped us down two picks lower--meaning less of chance to get a good player. We had a good chance earlier in the year to actually get a top three pick but management and Shaw decided we wanted to finish strong to make everyone feel better. The idea that a few wins down the stretch in the previous season is going to create momentum next year is just nonsense, particularly in a melt down season like this one. But hard to blame anybody too strongly. Hardly anybody left on the roster and coaches and players are paid to compete and win games. Just sort of unfortunate--in the longer run and bigger picture.

Please document the following statement. You, like Oliver Stone, often throw out theories as facts. "Nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams."

Curious to see the stats to back up your assumption. I know you would give credit to improvement if you saw it.....sarcasm. 2 spots in the draft does not automatically take you from a good player to a bad one.

Once again you make asinine takes that waste intelligent fans time.

Once again you bloviate on this thread. Cut everyone down, and don't back up your same old tired take.

I actually back up almost my takes with stats, something I've never seen you do here. Start doing it and I'll take you more seriously. And yes, I bloviate because I write paragraphs rather than twitter induced phrases or short sentences that by definition can't communicate as well. You can actually communicate here--you don't have to limit the numbers of key strokes.

Re 'nothing to lose often leads to wins against better teams,' it's well established science.

Do I really have to explain that relaxed people normally perform better than people under pressure? We admire people that perform well under pressure precisely because it's so unusual.

Being spoilers, exactly what the Nuggets have been doing, is much easier than being in the real fight where performance and games actually mean something beyond individual contracts or a fictional attempt at 'momentum' for next year.